What’s A Creek Worth?

Fourteen Mile Creek, like many urban creeks, runs the risk of being under-appreciated for its vital natural heritage and environmental values.

Fourteen Mile Creek provides:

Natural corridors of movement for migratory species of songbirds, butterflies and dragonfliesYear-round habitat for living, breeding and migration of local animals, from insects like dragonflies, to mammals like deer, fish like trout, and birds like owls, and amphibians like salamandersRemnant forested ravine habitat and historical ecosystem elements, such as Sugar Maple-American Beech forested ravine communitiesUncommon habitat for rare species such as Slender Sedge, Sharp-leaved Goldenrod, and Redside DaceWater control and purification: forest, wetland, and floodplains take in water flow from farms, parks and city blocks into natural depressions that can absorb large rain events. Water is also re-released slowly as it passes through plants and soils, helping continue flow in drier seasons while also filtering out sediments and contaminants